The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim wing, to ensure a smooth 2023 Hajj operation in Saudi Arabia.
This is just as the legislature expressed its readiness to work and collaborate with the Board for better services.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin made the call at a meeting with the Chairman of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, Prof. Sayed Malik at the Conference Hall of the Assembly.
Hon. Ogundotin, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Muhammad Abiodun Fadeyi, said the meeting was necessary to enable the Board to brief the legislature on the level of preparedness for the 2023 Hajj operations in Saudi Arabia.
He said that the engagement was also meant to inquire from the leadership of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim wing, its plan for about 150 intending pilgrims who could not participate in the 2022 Hajj exercise.
Earlier in his briefing, the Chairman, Prof Sayed Malik informed the legislature that everything was set for the 2023 Hajj operation in the holy land.
Responding to the plan for the 150 pilgrims who could not perform last year’s hajj in Oyo State, Prof Malik assured that they would be the first set of pilgrims to be considered for hajj exercise this year.
The Chairman disclosed that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCOM has increased the slots for Oyo State to 1500.
He, therefore, announced that about one hundred slots are still available for interested pilgrims who wish to perform the spiritual exercise with the board.
Prof Malik further hinted that the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim wing will continue to set the pace, saying that the Board will refund whatever money that is left for the pilgrims after any Hajj operation to them just as it did in 2019 and 2022.
The Special Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Islamic Affairs, Rasheed AbdulAzeez, commended the leadership of Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim wing for being truthful and transparent in its dealings with intending pilgrims.
